LTR Visa Updates Now Officially in Effect
On February 4, 2025, the Board of Investment (BOI) officially published the LTR Visa updates under Announcement No. Por. 3/2568. These changes, approved by Thailand’s Cabinet on January 13, 2025, aim to attract global professionals, high-net-worth individuals, and their families while supporting Thailand’s key industries. The reforms are now officially in force.
For official details, refer to the BOI Announcement Por. 3/2568.
Key Updates to Thailand’s LTR Visa in 2025
For Professionals Working from Thailand
• Income Threshold Reduced: Employers’ combined income requirement has been lowered from USD 150 million to USD 50 million over three years.
• Expanded Eligibility for Subsidiaries: Employees of subsidiaries fully owned by international corporations can now use the parent company’s financial statements to demonstrate financial stability, addressing a key challenge for many applicants.
• No More Work Experience Requirement: The five-year work experience requirement has been eliminated for this category.
• Why It Matters: These changes simplify the application process and significantly broaden access to the LTR Visa for skilled professionals, especially those working in international corporate structures.
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For Wealthy Global Citizens
• Old Requirement: Applicants needed to prove a personal income of at least USD 80,000 annually for the past two years.
• New Requirement: The personal income requirement has been completely removed.
• Why It Matters: Wealthy individuals with assets of at least USD 1 million and investments of USD 500,000 in Thailand no longer need to provide income documentation. This streamlines the application process and expands accessibility.
For Family Members
• Old Rule: Applications could include up to four dependents, limited to spouses and children under 20. Parents and other legal dependents were excluded.
• Same-sex spouses are already recognized as eligible dependents under current rules, following the Marriage Equality Act, which came into force on January 22, 2025.
• New Rule (Announced, Not Yet in Effect): The updated policy will allow applicants to include an unlimited number of dependents, including spouses (opposite- or same-sex, if legally married), parents, children, and other legal dependents (e.g., individuals under guardianship).
These changes will take effect only after supporting regulations are issued by the Ministry of Interior and the Immigration Bureau.
• Why It Matters: Once in force, this change will make the LTR Visa significantly more family-friendly, enabling larger or multigenerational families to relocate to Thailand under a single application. It aligns Thailand’s immigration policy with global mobility trends and enhances its appeal for international families.
For Highly Skilled Professionals
• Expanded Target Sectors: The program now includes additional fields beyond STEM, such as:
• Development and sustainability.
• Disaster and risk management.
• Integrated innovation.
• Eligibility for Educators: Educators in vocational and higher education are now eligible, regardless of discipline.
• No More Work Experience Requirement: The five-year work experience requirement has been eliminated for this category, making the visa more accessible to emerging talent.
• Why It Matters: These updates aim to attract a broader range of highly skilled professionals to critical industries, supporting Thailand’s economic growth and innovation.
LTR Visa Statistics as of 2024
• Total visas issued: Over 6,000.
• Top regions by recipients:
• Europe — 2,500 visas.
• USA — 1,080 visas.
• Japan — 610 visas.
• China — 340 visas.
• India — 280 visas.
Reforms to the SMART Visa Program
To avoid redundancy with the LTR Visa, the Cabinet has simplified the SMART Visa program. Overlapping categories have been discontinued, leaving only the SMART-S Visa for startup entrepreneurs who establish businesses in Thailand.
Read more:
SMART Visa Thailand: 2025 Reform and Focus on Startups
Helpful Guides
For more information about the LTR Visa program, visit our comprehensive guide:
Thailand’s Long-Term Resident Visa (LTR Visa): A Practical Guide
Looking for other visa options in Thailand? Explore our guide to Thailand visa options for a complete overview of available choices.
Long-Term Visa Options in Thailand for Business, Work, and Living
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